Straps or Chains for trailering?

LarryBud

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Equipment
L3130
Dec 5, 2020
241
126
43
Cleveland, MO
I’m going to need to haul my tractor with FEL and Rotary mower. I have a double axel car hauler rated for the job. I need to purchase either a set of chains and binders or HD Straps. I see they are about 50/50 on the thread of pictures with loaded trailers.

I like the idea of straps for ease of use, storage and no scratches. Downsides?
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
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Sandpoint, ID
4 straps for the tractor and 1 strap for the loader and bucket and 1 strap for the rotary cutter.
Just make sure the straps don't ride or rub on anything sharp.
 
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Geezer3d

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Kubota LX2610SU
Apr 22, 2021
180
161
43
Heart of the Catskills
I prefer straps for the same reasons you listed. The only down side is that a strap can wear or cut if you aren't careful about how you put them on.

Edit: Wolfman beat me to it. :cool:
 
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Tughill Tom

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Equipment
B3200
Dec 23, 2013
1,102
1,116
113
Turin, NY
Chains front and rear, 10,000 Lb strap over the floor. Hauled mine like the 1000's of miles and no issues.
 

GeoHorn

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M4700DT, LA1002FEL, Ferguson5-8B Compactor-Roller, 10KDumpTrailer, RTV-X900
May 18, 2018
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Texas
Chains and binders are my choice.
 
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RDinNHandAZ

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Equipment
Kubota BX1870, FEL, BX5450 Snowblower, back blade, customized snow cab
I too use chains and binders. If you get the binders that lever over then have a few bungies to keep the levers from opening. Never lost anything but several times a binder opened. Not a good feeling. And yes I have straps too and would not fear using them. If you go with straps get them way over rated for the load.
 

Lil Foot

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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
7,259
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Peoria, AZ
I'm a chain & binders guy, because that is what I was taught years ago.
I do strap the implements down.
 

Tarmy

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L2800, BH76A, FEL,box scraper
Nov 17, 2009
400
256
63
Lake Almanor, Ca
I think chains and binders make me more comfortable with the security of the load…
 
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rc51stierhoff

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B2650, MX6000, (BX sold)
Sep 13, 2021
1,899
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Ohio
I started with straps (I was cheap and not trailering much at all). Once I started to travel to another property (4hrs away) regularly the straps wore pretty quick and I went to chains and binders. If not going far or very often the. Maybe straps make sense from $$ point of view. From a durability I think chains and binders. Load is also much more secure with chains and binders IMO. I think chains and binders are just as fast if not faster.
 
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ferguson

Active member

Equipment
L3130
Jan 19, 2022
288
110
43
w.v.
I’m going to need to haul my tractor with FEL and Rotary mower. I have a double axel car hauler rated for the job. I need to purchase either a set of chains and binders or HD Straps. I see they are about 50/50 on the thread of pictures with loaded trailers.

I like the idea of straps for ease of use, storage and no scratches. Downsides?
You need to check your state DOT laws / Here in W V my L3130 at 3,600 lb requires chains / 2" straps would hold it fine and are easier to use but not legal. My 2 cents
 

NCL4701

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L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572 box scrape, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
Apr 27, 2020
2,488
3,508
113
Central Piedmont, NC
Chains and ratchet binders. Mostly because that’s what I’ve been doing successfully for 40 years and thousands of miles with various types of equipment.
 
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The Evil Twin

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L2501, LA526,
Jul 19, 2022
2,330
2,205
113
Virginia
You need to check your state DOT laws / Here in W V my L3130 at 3,600 lb requires chains / 2" straps would hold it fine and are easier to use but not legal. My 2 cents
Can you point me to that? I haul a 9800 lb vehicle in WV and only use wheel straps. I'm not commercial so that could make a difference. Been pulled over for bypassing a weigh station but once I said private transfer they apologized and let me roll on.
 
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PaulR

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BX 23S -- 100 hours seat time so far
Aug 3, 2020
580
456
63
Hadley, MA
Damn.
I'm 51 years old and I still use straps.
How old do you have to be to prefer chains???
:LOL::p
 
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GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
9,671
3,916
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
I use both, prefer chains for everything, then a few straps for extra protection. A case of more is better, especially if the DOT/MOT are about ! Never been pulled over and said I had too many holding down a load.
Be SURE to lower the 3ph implement ! Sadly there's a 'thread' about a rockshaft/diffcase being destroyed posted here, 2-3 weeks ago....